Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk held nothing back after her side was dramatically eliminated from Euro 2025 following a penalty shootout with England.
After topping Group G to reach the quarter-finals in Switzerland, Sweden seized the initiative against Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses on Thursday evening.
Kosovare Asllani fired her country into the lead after just two minutes before Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius doubled their lead.
The defending champions were far from their best and looked destined for an early exit from the competition as the game reached its closing stages.
However, a pair of goals in quick succession from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang forced the game into extra-time and kept English hopes alive.
After an additional 30 minutes of play couldn’t separate the two sides, a dramatic penalty shootout ensued.
Sweden goalkeeper Falk made three saves from 12 yards before missing what would have been the decisive penalty before England ultimately emerged victorious after 14 kicks had been taken.
Speaking following the game the 32-year-old couldn’t hide her disappointment as she reflected on being asked to take a spot kick.
‘Peter [Gerhardsson – Sweden manager] asked if I could do it and then I said yes,’ Falk said, per Expressen.
‘I just thought I would take a few deep breaths and put it to the left, which I didn’t do.
‘It was f***ing c**p and then it was just about focusing on saving the next penalty.’
Gerhardsson explained that he had held a meeting with his players to decide the order in which the players would take a spot-kick prior to the game.
‘We had a meeting and the players asked us to make a list: from one to eleven,’ he said.
‘But of course these are incredibly difficult decisions.’
England now progress to the semi-finals where they will face Italy on Tuesday night at the Stade de Geneve.
Le Azzure haven’t reached the final four of a European Championship since 1997.
Andrea Soncin’s side endured a dramatic quarter-final of their own to book their place in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
After opening the scoring early, Cristiana Girelli headed home a last-minute winner against Norway to leave her side one game away from a major final.
